Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani is in Brussels to participate in the meeting of the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council.
The meeting will open with a discussion on relations between the European Union and the Western Balkans. The exchange of views will focus on the enlargement process, the strengthening of political and security cooperation with the region, also to counter hybrid threats in the region, as well as the Balkan countries’ prospects for European integration. Minister Tajan – who will participate in the “Friends of the Western Balkans” Ministerial Meeting in Bratislava tomorrow – will reaffirm Italy’s strong support for stepping up the Western Balkans’ European integration, which he considers a strategic investment in the stability, security, and competitiveness of the entire Europe.
The Ministers will then discuss Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, also through an informal exchange of views with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. The discussion will focus on continued European support for Ukraine on the political, military, economic, and humanitarian levels, leveraging the €90 billion loan adopted by the European Council. The Ministers will also discuss European support for Ukraine in countering hybrid threats and information manipulation.
The meeting will continue with a session dedicated to the situation in the Middle East, with particular attention to the Palestinian Territories, tensions in the Gulf, and the safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Minister Tajani will reaffirm Italy’s commitment to de-escalation, freedom of navigation, and greater international coordination to ensure the security of strategic energy and trade routes, starting with the strengthening of the ASPIDES mission. Minister Tajani will update the other European Ministers on the outcomes of the recent MED9++ meeting, particularly on the launch of the “Rome Coalition,” intended as an inclusive platform to promote the continuity of food supply flows, improve access to fertilizers, and strengthen the resilience of agri-food systems.
On the sidelines of the Council, Minister Tajani will also participate in an informal working session of the 27 Ministers with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, dedicated to strengthening transatlantic coordination.
